NOT NECESSARILY A "BEST OF" LIST
So Far, So Good
We’re still picking up subscribers at a fairly steady clip. And since I’m a complete Luddite, I really don’t know if the newbies are looking back at some of the stuff we’ve done over the past eight or nine months. So I figured we might as well have a little look back…
There’s a lot more you can find in the archives beyond this curated list. But here are some of my personal favorites that have shown up here…
Reprinted and revised from the old SEX letter column, in this version I was able to add visuals to better illustrate my examples. It’ s also a chance for another shout out to writer, James Robinson, who basically gifted me with a professional career writing comicbooks.
A sentimental journey into the past, to a certain Direct Market comicbook store that no longer exists. But when it did, it loomed large in my young life.
WELCOME BACK TO BLOOD SQUAD SEVEN
Hopefully, this one let a few people know that this particular series is out there, with new issues shipping every month.
The first of a series of newsletters in which I look back on my run writing UNCANNY X-MEN circa 2001. A lot of backstory, a lot of behind-the-scenes material, a lot of context for what was -- at the time -- a fairly controversial comicbook that happened to sit at the top of the sales chart.
A fun little diversion. This newsletter should be played LOUD.
For a long time, the newsletter that garnered the most views. No idea why, aside from a certain saltiness that probably crept in. Given the subject matter, can you blame me…?
This one is a deep dive into a single issue comicbook from 1979 that meant everything to me when I was nine years old. Some of the minutiae I get into here still makes me happy…
A grand and glorious attempt to make comicbooks as a young, enthusiastic child. There’s a lot of unchecked energy in this one.
The modest -- but still creatively ambitious -- origins of my creator-owned series with artist, Tom Scioli. One of those rare instances where everything just fell into place fairly quickly.
A pretty detailed overview of the conception and creation of another one of my creator-owned books, JESUSFREAK (with artist, Benjamin Marra). A lot of process stuff in this one.
I can’t really comment on this one. You’ll just have to see for yourself.
AUTOMATIC KAFKA ISSUE NUMBER FOUR
A watershed issue for me, personally. It’s one of the specific instances -- early in my career -- where I felt I turned some sort of corner in my work. You be the judge…
A bit of personal history recalled in this one. A definite turning point in my young life. At the end of the day, I really liked how this particular newsletter turned out.
Another episode right out of my own life. Fairly significant, in hindsight. It’s one of my early attempts -- at sixteen years old -- to break into the industry as a professional comicbook writer. You’ll see a bit of the submission itself… and the surprising response it got.
As I said, there’s a lot more where these came from. I hope you find them entertaining on one level or another. After all, that’s why we’re all here, right…?
See you in the next newsletter. There’s still a ton of ground to cover.
Joe Casey
USA